New Delhi, Oct. 19 -- Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Monday inspected pollution control measures in the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) area, reviewing the installation and functioning of anti-smog guns and water mist systems in high-rise buildings.
Sirsa directed officials to take action against buildings, hotels, construction sites and other establishments violating prescribed pollution control norms.
Under Delhi government and Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) directions, commercial, institutional and hospitality buildings with five or more floors above ground and a built-up area exceeding 3,000 square metres must install prescribed dust-control systems.
"Negligence in complying with pollution control guidelines will not be tolerated," Sirsa said, stressing that enforcement must also cover dust suppression at construction sites and proper management of construction and demolition (C&D) waste.
He said restrictions on the entry of vehicles below the BS-VI emission standard into Delhi are scheduled to come into effect from November 1. He urged vehicle owners to follow the rules and ensure their vehicles carry valid Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCC).
Since October 1, an AI-enabled Command and Control Centre, 60 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) and 334 enforcement teams have been monitoring pollution-related activities round the clock, the government said. More than 2,200 non-compliant polluting industrial units have been sealed. The government's Winter Action Plan also includes restrictions on non-BS-VI vehicles entering Delhi from outside, doubled parking charges and provisions for 50% work from home.
Sirsa said the government's objective was to ensure compliance rather than initiate unnecessary action, adding that violations would invite strict action under applicable rules.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.